Ollas: Ancient Low Tech and Low Cost Sub-Surface Irrigation System

It’s a simple unglazed clay pot that is buried in the ground near plants with the neck of the pot above ground. They typically have a wide, bulb-like base with a narrow neck. The porous walls of the olla allow water to wick to the plants root zone.

I’ve looked at the 2 liter plastic soda bottles buried next to plants for irrigation. The problem with those are that there’s no way to regulate the flow of water to plants.

Ollas are different. They seep water when the plants and surrounding dirt need it. They acts as a moisture equalizer. The unglazed clay pots dispense water only when needed. Basic physics here.

After last year’s drought, we ramped up our rainwater collection system (just added two more in a tower) in our backyard pictured below, I’m thinking ollas would help conserve even more water in our garden.

Two 55 gallon barrels stacked to give us more water and water pressure.

Here’s some benefits of using a ollas I’ve discovered and wanted to share with you.

They water the roots instead of the surface of your garden or raised bed preventing soil compaction

The dry surface of your garden deters weed growth

Run off and evaporation are eliminated giving 100% application efficiency

The clay pots only need to be filled 1 or 2 times per week depending on climate

Reduces water usage by 50 to 70% making your collected rain water last even longer

Cuts the amount of time needed for watering with conventional methods

Adding fertilizer to the olla will feed the plants as it waters

One company, Dripping Springs Ollas, was started in 2011 and makes and distributes ollas. Click here to find a Dripping Springs Ollas vendor near you. Their ollas sell for around $32 each. If you don’t want to invest the money for a commercially made olla, you can always go the DiY route.

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Cut a hole in the top, insert a 3×4 inch PVC reducer into the hole and direct the downspout to the top of the 4 inch part of the reducer. You want to cover the 4 inch part with screen. Here’s how I did it on a single barrel.

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